Kentucky Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Kentucky, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 7 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Kentucky notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.695(2) (URLTA jurisdictions only)
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.695(2) (URLTA jurisdictions); Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.195 (one month, non-URLTA jurisdictions)
Notice for unpaid rent	7 days Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.660(2) (URLTA jurisdictions only)
End of a fixed-term lease	No notice is needed for a written lease to expire, but if the tenant stays on after it ends, either party may end the resulting tenancy with 10 days' written notice. In URLTA areas the landlord may terminate at any time without notice if rent is 10+ days late (KRS 383.695(3)).
How notice can be delivered	In URLTA areas, a tenant receives notice when it is delivered in hand or mailed by registered or certified mail to the address the tenant designated or last known residence (KRS 383.560(3)(c)); a landlord receives it in writing at its place of business or by certified mail (KRS 383.560(3)(b)).

Kentucky's URLTA (KRS 383.505-383.715) applies only where a city or county has adopted it in full (KRS 383.500), including Louisville/Jefferson County and Lexington/Fayette County. Elsewhere, the lease, common law and the forcible detainer statutes govern. There is no statutory 7-day nonpayment notice outside URLTA areas, and no statute sets the tenant's month-to-month notice there (one month is customary). Always check whether the property's city or county has adopted URLTA.

What a Kentucky notice to vacate should include

The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
Your name, signature and contact details
A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Kentucky notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Kentucky?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.695(2) (URLTA jurisdictions only)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Kentucky?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.695(2) (URLTA jurisdictions); Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.195 (one month, non-URLTA jurisdictions)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Kentucky?

The tenant gets 7 days to pay or move out (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.660(2) (URLTA jurisdictions only)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Kentucky?

In URLTA areas, a tenant receives notice when it is delivered in hand or mailed by registered or certified mail to the address the tenant designated or last known residence (KRS 383.560(3)(c)); a landlord receives it in writing at its place of business or by certified mail (KRS 383.560(3)(b)).

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Kentucky?

No notice is needed for a written lease to expire, but if the tenant stays on after it ends, either party may end the resulting tenancy with 10 days' written notice. In URLTA areas the landlord may terminate at any time without notice if rent is 10+ days late (KRS 383.695(3)).

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.